NAMAN.GAUBA007: Added A Biography More To Come

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Added A Biography More To Come

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{{Short description|Influential personality of Colonial India}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2025}}
'''Hamid Ali Khan''' (14 December 1860 – 12 September 1918) was an Indian Islamic scholar, barrister, and orator from [[Amroha]]. He was born in [[Bareilly]] to Hakim Muhammad Amjad Ali Khan, a [[Shia Islam|Shia]] intellectual who served as the deputy collector of Amroha. Khan was known for his contributions to Islamic scholarship and legal practice.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Khan |first=Hamid Ali |title=The Certificates, &c., of Hakim Mohamed Amjad Ali Khan ... Hakim Mohamed Niaz Ali Khan ... Sheikh Altaf Hasan Khan ... and Munshi Shaukat Hasan. [Edited by] Hamid Ali Khan [with a series of complimentary press-notices, and verses entitled "A Farewell to London"] |publisher=Lucknow, Pp. 98. N.N. Sivapuri Press |year=1899 |location=Lucknow |oclc=752608751}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Abidi |first=Inam |title=Making of a Qasba: The Story of Amroha |publisher=Inam Abidi Amrohvi |year=2023 |isbn=978-9358115000 |publication-date=1 January 2023 |pages=88–91}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Justin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rrioNz8_EwwC |title=Shi'a Islam in Colonial India: Religion, Community and Sectarianism |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2011 |isbn=9781139501231 |publication-date=24 Oct 2011}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
[[File:MAO College Students in England.jpg|thumb|[[Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College|M.A.O. College Aligarh]] Students in England<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our History A Brief History of the AMU Old Boys' Association |url=https://amuoldboys.org/a-brief-history-of-amu-old-boys-association/ |website=AMU Old Boys Association |date=12 October 2023 |publisher=Aligarh Muslim University |place=Aligarh}}</ref> Circa 1885]]
In 1880, Hamid Ali Khan obtained a bachelor's degree from [[Aligarh]]. He then pursued legal studies in [[London]], enrolling to become a [[barrister-at-law]]. During his time in London, he was associated with [[Mansur Ali Khan|Nawab Syed Manzoor Ali]] and [[Asman Jah|Sir Asman Jah]]. He also met notable figures such as poet [[Alfred, Lord Tennyson|Lord Alfred Tennyson]], administrator [[William Muir|Sir William Muir]], and [[Edward VII]], who was then the prince of Wales and later became the emperor of [[India]].<ref name=":1" />

== Literary contributions ==
Hamid Ali Khan began his legal career in [[Lucknow]] in 1886 but was also active in literary pursuits. His interest in [[poetry]] developed during his school years and deepened during his time in London, where he interacted with literary figures such as [[Mansur Ali Khan|Nawab Saiyid Manzoor Ali of Bengal]] and [[Asman Jah|Sir Asman Jah of Hyderabad]]. In 1885, he wrote ''A Farewell to London'', an English poem reflecting on his departure from the city in 1885.

Upon returning to India, Hamid participated in ''[[Mushaira|musha’irahs]]'' (poetry gatherings) and became involved in [[Urdu poetry]]. Under the guidance of poets such as Shaikh Ali Khazeen, Ahsan Lakhnawi, and [[Safi Lakhnavi|Safi Lakhnawi]], he composed works in various forms, including ''[[qasida]]'' (panegyric), ''[[hamd]]'' (praise of God), ''[[Naʽat|na’at]]'' (praise of the Prophet), ''[[Ruba'i|ruba’i]]'' (quatrain), ''[[ghazal]]'' (lyric poetry), ''qata'' (couplet-based poem), and ''[[Sehra (poetry)|sehra]]'' (wedding poem).<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Rahman |first=M. Raisur |url=https://archive.org/details/localeeverydayis0000rahm |title=Locale, everyday Islam, and modernity : Qasbah towns and Muslim life in colonial India |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2015 |isbn=978-0199455225 |pages=155–158}}</ref>

On June 13, 1916, poet Dil Shahjahanpuri praised Hamid's work, declaring him worthy of the title "[[Saadi Shirazi|Sadi]] of [[Urdu]]", a comparison to the revered [[Persian language|Persian]] poet. His literary contributions were recognized by figures such as Asar Lakhnawi, Ahsan Mahrehrawi, Bekhud Mohani, Altaf Husain Hali, Shad Azimabadi, and Mujtaba of Amroha.

Hamid Ali Khan's Urdu prose includes a notable full-length [[biography]] of Saiyid Karamat Husain of [[Lucknow]], a prominent [[High courts of India|high court]] [[judge]] and an early advocate for Muslim women's education in [[North India]]. Published in 1918, a year after Karamat Husain's death, Hamid Ali Khan's work stands out for its comprehensive approach. Meanwhile, Chaudhary Muhammad Ali Rudaulvi, who also admired Karamat Husain's efforts, released a 41-page [[memoir]] the same year. Despite belonging to different qasbahs, both writers shared an appreciation for Karamat Husain's legacy. Muhammad Ali's memoir provides a more personal perspective, recounting his encounters and emphasizing the cordial relationship between Hamid Ali Khan and Karamat Husain.

Hamid Ali Khan summarized it thus:

"''Karamat uth gaye Hamid fasana reh gaya baqi,''

''Hamari aur unki mustaqil sacchi muhabbat ka''" (Karamat left, O Hamid! All that remains is but the story Of mine and his resolute, deep afection)<ref name=":3" />

The biographies of Saiyid Karamat Husain by Hamid Ali Khan and Chaudhary Muhammad Ali Rudaulvi complement each other, blending formal analysis with personal reflection. While Hamid Ali Khan’s full-length biography provides a detailed and structured account, Chaudhary Muhammad Ali’s memoir offers a more informal and intimate narrative of Karamat Husain's life and impact.

Hamid Ali Khan's literary contributions extend far beyond biographical works. His portfolio includes ''Hamare Hum-asr'' (''Our Contemporaries''), which profiles notable contemporaries, and critical works like ''Muqabla Dabir-o-Milton'', a comparative analysis of [[Mirza Salaamat Ali Dabeer|Dabir]] and [[John Milton]], and ''[[Khwaja Haidar Ali Aatish|Atish]]'', focusing on the Urdu poet [[Khwaja Haidar Ali Aatish|Khwaja Haider Ali Aatish]] (1778–1848). He actively contributed to Urdu periodicals, fostering literary discourse and spotlighting poets such as Asghar of Ghazipur, whose work he featured in the journal ''May'ar''.

Although his English writings are fewer, they are noteworthy. "The Vernacular Controversy" examines the [[Devanagari|Nagri]] agitation of 1900, highlighting debates over script reform, while "The Bulwark of India"<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ayUJAAAAQAAJ |title=Journal of the National Indian Association, in Aid of Social Progress in India, Issues 169-180 |publisher=W.H. Allen & Company |year=1885 |pages=538–540}}</ref> envisions a harmonious [[Anglo-Indian people|Anglo-Indian]] relationship. He even ventured into health-related subjects, with works like '''How to Check Diabetes'''.<ref name=":3" />

==Family background==
[[File:Family Tree of Hamid Ali Khan.jpg|thumb|Family Tree of Hamid Ali Khan<ref>{{Cite book |last=Khan |first=Hakim Nawab Ali |url=https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/shams-ul-tawareekh-volume-002-hakeem-nawab-ali-khan-ebooks |title=SHAMS-UL-TAWAREEKH |publisher=Munshi Gulab Singh Press, Lucknow |year=1898 |location=Lucknow}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Khan |first1=Hakim Rahat Ali |title=Diwan-e-Haziq |last2=Khan |first2=Kazim Ali |publisher=Khwaja Press, Delhi |location=Delhi |page=03}}</ref>]]

Hamid Ali Khan belonged to a prominent family with a background in public service, literature, and traditional medicine. His father, Hakim Amjad Ali Khan (1827–1900), was a physician (''hakim''), a scholar in multiple disciplines, and served as a deputy collector in Amroha.<ref name=":2" />

His father-in-law, Nawab Khan Bahadur Shaikh Altaf Hasan Khan, was a landowner (''[[rais]]'') of Lucknow, and his ancestral property included Talkatora Karbala. Hamid Ali Khan's uncle, Hakim Neyaz Ali Khan (1832–1911), was also a deputy collector and a landowner.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Khan |first=Hamid Ali |title=[Genealogy of Ḣakīm Niyāz 'Alī Khān. With letters addressed to him and to members of his family. Edited by his son, Ḣāmid 'Alī Khān.] |year=1911 |oclc=562763037}}</ref>

Kazim Ali Khan (1896–1973), the son of Rafat Ali Khan, was an advocate and special magistrate in Amroha. He was also involved in Urdu literature and poetry, publishing ''Gul Parey'' and organizing literary forums featuring poets such as [[Ghulam Hamdani Mas'hafi|Mus'hafi]] and [[Muhammad Iqbal|Iqbal]]. Additionally, he led local religious and cultural associations and served as the president of Dargah Najaf-e-Hind, Jogipura.<ref name=":3" />

==Political and Social Influence==

In addition to his literary contributions, Hamid was also involved in politics. He was elected to a legislative position in 1893 and again in 1895, receiving support from both Hindu and Muslim communities. His political career took place during a period of increasing Hindu revivalism, and he was recognized for his efforts in engaging with diverse communities.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gallagher |first1=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DQWOAAAAMAAJ |title=Locality, Province and Nation: Essays on Indian Politics 1870 to 1940 |last2=Johnson |first2=Gordon |last3=Seal |first3=Anil |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1973 |isbn=9780521098113 |publication-date=26 Jul 1973 |pages=89–90}}</ref>

Hamid Ali Khan played an active role in these discussions, leading a committee in Lucknow focused on advocating for the retention of Urdu in education and administration. He addressed these concerns in his article ''The Vernacular Controversy'', in which he examined the implications of the proposed script reforms and argued for the continued use of Urdu.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Khan |first=Hamid Ali |url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/The-vernacular-controversy-:-an-account-and-criticism-of-the-equalisation-of-Nagri-and-Urdu-as-the-character-for-the-Court-of-the-North-West-Provinces-and-Oudh-under-the-resolution-No.-585III-343-C68-of-Sir-A.P.-MacDonnell-dated-18th-April-1900/oclc/32474451 |title=The vernacular controversy : an account and criticism of the equalisation of Nagri and Urdu, as the character for the Court of the North-West Provinces and Oudh, under the resolution No. 585/III 343-C68 of Sir A.P. MacDonnell |year=1900 |location=Lucknow |oclc=32474451}}</ref>

Hamid Ali Khan's residence served as a venue for political and social discussions. In 1901, [[Waqar-ul-Mulk|Nawab Mushtaq Husain Viqar-ul-Mulk]] held a meeting at Hamid's house to address concerns related to linguistic and cultural issues. Hamid later participated as a delegate at the 1906 Muslim Educational Conference in [[Dhaka]], an event that contributed to the founding of the [[All-India Muslim League]]. His involvement in these initiatives reflected the engagement of the ''qasbāti'' (small-town Muslim elite) in broader political movements during the early 20th century.<ref name=":1" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1860 births]]
[[Category:1918 deaths]]
[[Category:Islamic scholars]]

Hamid Ali Khan (scholar) - Revision history

NAMAN.GAUBA007: Added A Biography More To Come